LENTEN RETREAT
Saturday, March 3rd from 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM
St. Gabriel’s Church
The Lenten season will soon be upon us, calling us to look deeply into our lives, and to return to the Gospel.
Our Lenten retreat this year will be held on Saturday, March 3rd from 12:30 PM to 4:00 PM. The theme of the retreat is “Turning Tables: Our Walking and Working with Jesus.”
Our preacher will be Father Jim O’Shea, an inspiring and engaging Passionist working in New York City. Along with pastoral work, Father Jim focuses also on community development, paying particular attention to the housing and education needs of the community, especially those who are marginalized. In 2010, he founded Reconnect Brooklyn with the mission of engaging young people through entrepreneurship, education and service. The project operates Reconnect Café and Reconnect Graphics, and has employed over 150 young people.
Using stories from the Gospel and his neighbourhood work in Brooklyn, NY, Father Jim will invite us to embrace the liberating and creative spirit of Jesus in changing the world and ourselves.
For more information on the retreat, please call the Parish Office at (416) 221-8866, or email Fatima Lee at fatimalee@bellnet.ca.
FAMILY DAY
Monday, February 19th
Monday February 19th is Family Day, a day to celebrate our families. The Parish Office will be closed and there will be no 9:00 AM Mass on that day.
LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION
Sunday, February 25th after 12:30 PM Mass
Friday, February 16th marked the beginning of Lunar New Year. This year is the Year of the Dog. For many years, the Asian community in our parish has gifted our parish community with a wonderful Lunar New Year Party.
Our Lunar New Year Celebration will take place on Sunday, February 25th after the 12:30 PM Mass in the Gathering Space. All are welcome.
ANNOUNCED MASSES
February 19th – February 24th, 2018
MONDAY – FAMILY DAY – No 9:00 AM Mass
TUESDAY – ARMANDO & WALTER DINARDO – Requested by Pasqua Dinardo & Family
WEDNESDAY – CHIU FAMILYLIVING & DECEASED – Requested by the Chiu Family
THURSDAY – ZOFIA & WANDA WLADYSLAW – Requested by their Children & Grandchildren
FRIDAY – MADALENA NASCIMENTO – Requested by the Nascimento Family
SATURDAY – DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE CHUCHRA & WROBEL FAMILIES – Requested by Jack & Wanda
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Stations of the Cross will take place each Friday evening during Lent at 7:30 PM. We also encourage your attendance at our daily Mass throughout Lent.
THE CALL FOR CONSCIENCE 2018 CAMPAIGN
Sign-Up Sundays! February 24th/25th and March 3rd/4th.
We Need Your Help!
Cardinal Collins and bishops across Ontario are asking for an email address from every Catholic family in their community, with a goal of 100,000 email addresses collected by the end of February 2018. This information will be used locally by Cardinal Collins and trusted faith partners to communicate periodically (approximately 6-8 times each year) on issues of particular importance for the Catholic community.
The first campaign of 2018 is the Call for Conscience, inviting our elected Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) and those seeking office this June to increase funding/access to palliative care, to protect health care workers wishing to abstain from any involvement in euthanasia/assisted suicide and to protect faith-based facilities from participation in euthanasia/assisted suicide. The work builds on a similar campaign in 2017.
Please visit http://bit.ly/SignUpSundayRegistration to register for this initiative. Thank you for living a faith that acts!
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL URGENT APPEAL!
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul – St. Gabriel Conference, is appealing for donations for first and last month’s rent of $3,150 for a government sponsored Syrian refugee family. Government support has ended for this single mother and her two sons. They need to move as she cannot afford the current rent.
For further information, please contact Brenda D’Souza at 416-990-8892.
CANADA SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM
Be Informed & Reach Out to Your MP
The federal government has introduced new requirements for employers applying for the Canada Summer Jobs grant. To be eligible for funding, employers must attest that both the job and the organization’s core mandate respect certain “values” as determined by the federal government including the government’s position on abortion, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. Organizations unable or unwilling to make this attestation in whole or in part will be deemed ineligible for the grant.
This requirement is clearly unjust. Many Catholic organizations throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto and many other faiths involved in charitable activity at soup kitchens, shelters, refugee welcome centres or summer camps are impacted by this decision.
Please take a moment to visit www.archtoronto.org/summerjobs for more information and to find a template letter to send to your MP and the Minister responsible for this portfolio.
FOOD FOR ROSALIE HALL & GOOD SHEPHERD CENTRE
Thank you for your generous support of Rosalie Hall and the Good Shepherd Centre. Your food donations are very much appreciated.
Rosalie Hall assists young parents and their children to realize their potential through the provision of a wide range of child development, community, residential and educational services.
Good Shepherd provides hot meals and shelter for the homeless in our city as well as a chance to start again through the Resettlement or DARE Programs
With so many people struggling at this time, your food donations are more important than ever. Please check the expiry dates before donating since we cannot pass on food that has expired.
ORGANIC GARDEN WORKSHOPS
This Sunday, February 18th
Gabriel Room
Our Organic Horticulturalist, Robert Cordy, will continue to hold workshops in the series entitled Organic Garden Design 1, 2 and 3, this Sunday, February. 18th. All parishioners are welcome. Workshop will be held in the Gabriel Room after the 12:30 Mass.
LIVING OUR SPIRITUALITY IN THE SECOND HALF OF LIFE
Tuesdays – until April 24th, 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
St. Bonaventure’s Parish – Francis Room
St. Bonaventure’s Ministry with Maturing Adults is offering several programs on Tuesday Mornings from 9:30 to 11:30.
February 20th – Advanced Care Planning
February 27th – Understanding Islam – Being in Dialogue with your Neighbors
March 13th – Homeless in Toronto
March 20th – The Wisdom of Teresa of Avila
April 24th – Special Event with Luncheon
There is no cost for this program. For more information, please go to Maureen@st-bonaventure.ca or call her at 416 447 5571 Ext. 550 or check the flyer on the bulletin board.
MILK BAG PROJECT
Wednesday, February 21st from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Gabriel Room
Volunteer milk bag weavers will be meeting Wednesday afternoon, February 22nd from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM in the
Gabriel Room. All are welcome!
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
Friday, March 2nd at 1:30 PM
St John’s York Mills Anglican Church
19 Don Ridge Drive
You are cordially invited to the annual ecumenical World Day of Prayer Service which will be held at St. John’s York Mills Anglican Church on Friday March 2nd at 1:30 PM. The theme this year, “All God’s Creation is Very Good” was written by the women of Suriname. St. Gabriel’s is one of three Catholic churches involved but has very little representation at the service. Please join us, along with our neighbouring Christian churches, in prayer and reflection. A reception will follow.
CELEBRATE YOUR MARRIAGE WITH A WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND!
March 2nd to March 4th, 2018
Four Points by Sheraton, Argentia Rd., Mississauga
Celebrate your love and take a fresh look at your marriage! Spend a very special weekend together. A Weekend of discovery…a lifetime of love! Worldwide Marriage Encounter is a weekend getaway that helps married couples rediscover themselves as individuals and as a couple. The Weekend format helps couples communicate openly and honestly without group sharing, therapy or marriage counseling.
For more information and application, please go to www.wwme.org or contact:
Gerard & Marge McCauley at gerard.marge@rogers.com or (905) 792-1925.
COME AND SEE WEEKEND
Friday, March 23rd, 6:30 PM to Sunday, March 25th, 1:30 PM
St. Augustine’s Seminary:
The Office of Vocations invites single Catholic men 17 years and older, to a Come and See Weekend at St. Augustine’s Seminary from Friday, March 23rd to Sunday, March 25th. Come and cultivate a deeper prayer life and relationship with Jesus Christ; leading to a better discernment of God’s call for their lives. There will be time for prayer, reflection and information on the process of becoming one of Christ’s disciples as a Catholic priest.
Register online at www.vocationstoronto.ca. Registrants 17 years old require parental consent.
For more information, please contact (the Parish Priest) or the Office of Vocations at: 416 968 0997 or you may email vocations@archtoronto.org.
DYNAMIC WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE
Saturday, March 24th from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
John Paul 2 Polish Cultural Centre, 4300 Cawthra Road
Dynamic Women of Faith will be hosting its 9th annual conference for Catholic women on Saturday March 24th at the John Paul 2 Polish Cultural Centre. There is limited seating!
Register at http://dynamicwomenfaith.com/
Early Bird $ 55.00 (before Feb 20) Regular Registration $ 60.00
Light Breakfast, lunch and free parking are all included.
There is also a special event for Mothers and daughters on Friday, March 23rd, from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
FINANCE CORNER
Offertory Envelopes for 2018
The 2018 Offertory Boxed Envelopes are available in the hallway near the Gabriel Room. Please pick yours up as soon as possible.
Tax Receipts for 2017
Tax receipts for 2017 have been mailed. Tax receipts for the Family of Faith Campaign or for any donations made by credit card through the Archdiocese will be receipted by the Archdiocese.
Founded by St. Paul of the Cross, every Passionist takes a special vow to spend his or her energies in promoting remembrance of the sufferings of Jesus, the memory of the Cross, and reflection of the meaning of the Cross for the world.
